Identifying and Advocating Best Practices in the Criminal Justice System. A Texas-Centric Examination of Current Conditions, Reform Initiatives, and Emerging Issues with a Special Emphasis on Capital Punishment.

Monday, 11 January 2010

New Hampshire Death Penalty Commission Developments

A vote Wednesday to change rules in the state House of Representatives has left at least two Seacoast lawmakers puzzled.

Both
Democratic and Republican House leaders supported a rules change to
allow only elected lawmakers serve on short-term House study committees
starting this session. Previously, state agency personnel or outside
experts could serve on panels, which are established by law precisely
to take a closer a look at an issue or potential law — such as the
current death penalty study commission — before making a recommendation
to the entire House.

Supporters
say the change, which had overwhelming bipartisan approval, will allow
committees to run more efficiently and allow lawmakers to complete
their duties. There were also concerns that non-legislators might have
undue influence over how recommendations might be crafted and approved.

"They
(the public) can have a seat at the table, but not a vote," said House
Speaker Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth. "The whole point is for elected
officials to gather information. What's good is healthy public input,
but undue outside control of the outcome is not good."

But
veteran state Rep. Jim Splaine, D-Portsmouth, opposed the change,
calling it "anti-democratic." He said legislative study committees need
and should encourage the participation of nonelected citizens.

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The StandDown Texas Project

The StandDown Texas Project was organized in 2000 to advocate a moratorium on executions and a state-sponsored review of Texas' application of the death penalty.
To stand down is to go off duty temporarily, especially to review safety procedures.

Steve Hall

Project Director Steve Hall was chief of staff to the Attorney General of Texas from 1983-1991; he was an administrator of the Texas Resource Center from 1993-1995. He has worked for the U.S. Congress and several Texas legislators. Hall is a former journalist.